Continuous molding-machine.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN FLTOIIER, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

yCONTINUOUS IVIOLDING-NIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,716, dated January'7, 1902.

Application iiled August 23, 1901` Serial No. 72,976. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FLETCHER,

to be molded or formed, after the fashion of the interior of the molds,from the contents on ythe table, through the center of which theycontinually pass, and toward the upper and lower compression Wheels, andiinally over the discharging-wheel, where the con--` tentsofthe moldsare continuouslydischarged into a suitable chute leading to areceptacle.

For convenience the drawings illustrating my invention show in thislinstance the machine adapted for molding or forming what are commonlyknown as popcorn-fritters.'

For this purpose the molds are rectangular in either section, this beingfound most suitable for the substance in question. The molds may beformed in numerous shapes an'dlwork with equal eiiiciency. Moreover',the compression-Wheels mayimpress an imprint of a name, trade-mark, orsuch like on the contents of the mold While passing between the,

same.

The object of my invention is to provide an efficient, durable, andrapid continuous molding-machine, all parts easy of access and simple inconstruction, positive in action, and applicable for forming numeroussubstances into a variety of designs with uniformity of shape and size.A

To such ends my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts here inafter particularly described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof, inWhich similar figures of reference refer to like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved continuousmolding-machine. Fig. 2

is a detail view of a portion of the machine in partial longitudinalsection in which the compression-Wheels and discharging-Wheel, with aportion of the endless chain ofmolds, are clearly shown ;l and Fig. 3 isa detail view in perspective of a portion ofthe endless chain of vmoldsin which the manner of connecting the molds is shown. f

To support the mechanism and give rigidity to the machine, a suitableframe is employed, consisting of a stout horizontal bed 1, supported onlegs 2, preferably four in' number, secured to the extremities of thebed l and `serving a `double purpose by supporting,` the yboxingcarrying the respective spindles of directly opposite and secured to theunder side is a similar pair of gudgeons 6. Sliding vertically in thegudgeons 5 and 6 and operated by the adjusting-screws 7are theadjustable bearings 8 and 9., respectively. vThese bearings support therespective spindles of theV upper and lower compression-wheels 10 andl11, respectively, thus permitting the said compression-Wheels to bereadily adjusted,

enabling their respective addenda toV be operated to any desired depthwithin the molds.

.The addenda 12 ofthe compression-Wheels 10 and 11 representradial teethor a serrated periphery provided with ample clearance by Aundercuttingand in this instance are shown secured to the periphery of the centralcylindrical portion of the compression-wheels.

Nevertheless they can bel formed as an integral part of the lattershould it be found necessary. is preferably a short arc radial with thecenter of the Wheel. In this instance the face of the addendum 12 isrectangular in shape or similar to the interior of themolds. In allcases the form of the face will resemble that of the interior of themolds in whatever de- The periphery of the addendum 12Y sign they takein as far as is permitted and al- The addenda 14. of thedischarging-wheel 3 although differing in form are in other re- Spectssimilar-that is, in place of the face .being radial it is tangential,the object of which is to facilitate the discharging of the moldswithout crushing or disiiguring the contents. This is accomplished bythe inclination of the addendum 1-1, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby theface meets the contents of the mold parallel with the under side andejects the same into the chute 15 for the purpose hereinbeforedescribed.

For convenience in handling and to support the material to be molded ina position to be readily fed to the molds is a table 16, extending oneitherside and overhanging the bed 1 and having the upper surface levelwith the top of the molds. Traveling longitudinally through the centerof the table 1G in a way formed in the bed 1 is the endless chain ofmolds 13. Several openings are formed in the bed 1 for the followingpurposes: to permit the chain of molds 13 to pass from the idler-pulley4 to the surface of the table, the operation of the compression-wheels10 and 11, and ,the operation of the dischargingwheel 3.

The direction in which the several parts rotate is clearly shown by thearrows and also that of the chain of molds.

The endless chain of molds 13 consists of a plurality of molds 13,secured by links 17 in a manner to permit of suli'icient flexibility tooperate smoothly. The links 17 are preferably set in recesses 17, formedin the ends of the molds 13u, and lie flush with the upper portion ofthe molds.

For the purpose of operating the machine a driving-pulley 1S isemployed, supported on the spindle ot' the discharging wheel, as shown.

The compression-wheels 10 and 11 are in this instance actuated by theendless chain of molds. The driving of the machine may be performedviceversa, orindependently of the synchronical motion imparted by theendless chain of molds. This may be accomplished by sprocket wheels andchain or a chain of gears operating from the extensions of therespective spindles.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a continuous molding-machine, the combination of an endless chainof molds adapted to travel longitudinally over the bed of the machine,vertically-adjustable upper and lower compression-wheels, and adischarging-wheel for ejecting the contents of the molds, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a continuous moldingmachine, the combination of an endless chainof molds adapted to travel longitudinally over the bed of the machine, avertically-adjustable compression-wheel meshing with the upper side ofsaid chain of molds, a vertically-adjustable compression-wheel meshingwith the under side of said chain of molds, and a dischargingwheel forejecting the contents of the molds, substantially as set forth.

3. In a continuous molding-machine, the combination of an endless chainof molds adapted to travel longitudinally over the bed of the machine,an upper compression-wheel provided with a serrated periphery andadapted to mesh with said chain of molds, a lower compression-wheelprovided with a serrated periphery and adapted to mesh with said chainof molds, means for vertically adjusting said compression Wheels,whereby their respective addenda can be operated to any desired depthwithin the molds, a discharging-wheel provided with a serrated peripheryand adapted to mesh with the said chain of molds, and the faces of theaddenda of said dischargingwheel tangential to the periphery, wherebythe faces meet the contents of the molds parallel with the underside ofthe same, substantially as set forth.

4. In a continuous molding-machine, the combination of an endless chainof molds adapted to travel longitudinally over the bed of the machine, atable surrounding a plurality of the molds and having the upper surfacelevel with the top of the same, an idler-pulley located below the bedfrom the periphery of which the chain of molds pass to the surface ofthe same, a discharging-wheel over which the chain of molds pass to theunder side of the said bed, an upper and lower compression-wheel adaptedto mesh with the chain of molds, means for verticallyadjusting saidcompression-wheels, whereby the addenda of the serrated peripheries canbe operated to any desired depth within the molds, and the faces of theaddenda of said discharging-wheel tangential with the periphery, wherebythe faces meet the contents of the molds parallel with the under side ofthe same, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Toronto this 5th day of July, 1901.

BENJAMIN FLETCHER.

Vtitnesses:

J. G. LYE, H. DIXON.

IIO

